Don't put words in the mouths of Goodkin's detractors. I know you weren't really doing that, but...it's easy to say, Oh I think people don't like him because of his 'communist bent', but they can't take away from his writing. Well, I can and I will.
I hate the guy specifically because I think the writing, itself, is poor.
Ridiculous & surface dialogue, stitled one-dimensional characters and predictable plotlines. My opinion. There is absolutely no emotional depth in the characters at all in my opinion and I tend to go for character-driven fantasy.
Anyhoo....